Can the OUMIER Rudder Offer Something Unique?

Life is full of surprises. When I first received the Oumier Rudder 200W vape mod, I was a little concerned. The semi-exposed battery compartment and jutting adjustment dial on the front of the mod didn’t exactly instill a lot of confidence about how well the Rudder would survive a sharp drop to the floor. And to be honest from the outset, some of that concern is justified. But overall, I grew to  enjoy the Rudder more than those first impressions would have had me believe.

The Oumier Rudder is far from a perfect vape mod, but there’s a hell of a lot more good than bad going on here. Let’s see what the company has to say about the Rudder:

Powered by a pair of 18650 batteries that are sold separately, they can be installed within the durable chassis via magnetic battery doors. Achieving wattages between 5-200W is easy for the Oumier Rudder, while resistances can run between 0.05-3.0ohm depending on the attached atomizer and coil configuration. In addition, the Rudder box mod features a large OLED display screen with changeable options and themes to further suit the user.

Considering the key selling point of the Oumier Rudder is the jutting adjustment dial located at the bottom of the front-facing plate, the mod is surprisingly slender and pocketable. No, really – no matter how I tried to make it happen, the Rudder never got caught when putting it in my jeans pocket.

Initial Impressions and Aesthetics

But that notched dial DOES stick out considerably from the front of the device, so I’d still be careful if you’re rocking tighter pockets, or are notoriously clumsy with your mods. And I’d also recommend not keeping the dial against your palm when firing, since it can move pretty easily, leading to a sudden jolt or loss in power.

What helps is how slim the Rudder really is. Though it’s 31mm deep, and can accommodate larger atomizers without overhang, Oumier’s design team did a nice job trimming the fat and making the device extremely ergonomic.

Another interesting design choice is the magnetic rear battery door, which sits nicely flush with the mod’s lines and curves. But it also highlights the giant recessed cutouts on either side of the device, which are GREAT for battery venting purposes, but kinda work against the mod’s look and feel, unless you have neutral colored cells (which I don’t – thanks, lime green Samsung 25Rs). Still, I’m all about safety, so this was a VERY welcome design choice in my eyes.

Finally, I should mention the display, which is bright, sharp and legible, even in broad daylight. The screen design and layout isn’t the most original thing we’ve seen, but at the end of the day, it works well and doesn’t make the user work harder to get the information they need.

Standout Features

We’d be remiss if we didn’t dedicate a paragraph or two to the Rudder’s key differentiator, the wattage/temp adjustment dial that replaces the usual up/down adjustment scheme. At first, it seems minimalist, but Oumier’s chipset is pretty linear, and shows it can handle adjustment entry without much fuss.

That said, I have a few qualms with the interface. For starters, the dial is a little too loose and plastic-like for my preferences, spinning pretty easily with minimal force. Because of this, I had several adjustment concerns before I learned you can lock a wattage/temp setting, effectively “muting” the dial until you’re ready to use it again. I would have preferred a physical barrier rather than having to navigate the menus to do the same thing, but what’s here works well.

Another thing I would have liked with the dial is some tactile feedback from each spin, letting me know I’m making a change to a setting (intentionally or unintentionally). Without some type of physical sensation, it simply doesn’t feel as responsive. Other mods have nailed this with their own dials (like the GearBox, which we’ll be reviewing soon).

Vaping the Oumier Rudder Mod

When doing these reviews, one of the terms I always use is “smooth ramping power.” Well, mods like the Oumier Rudder are WHY this is important. While the Rudder definitely gets to a legitimate 200 watts without an ounce of heat or trouble, it’s not a SMOOTH experience. There’s a constant sense of pulsing once you exceed 100 watts – half of the device’s stated limit – and it really becomes noticeable around 120 and higher. The vape quality is adequate at these levels, but you get the sense that the mod is thrusting power to you, rather than delivering a steady flow of energy. Hardly a dealbreaker, but not exactly something I expected to discuss in mid-2019, either.

Despite this, the various modes and features of the Rudder all work well. TC adjustments are pretty smooth, given the dial/fire key interface, and I never had much jumpiness when setting my coils. Bypass is similarly effective, though it did seem to drain battery a little faster than the other modes – odd, because battery life is pretty good on the mod, otherwise.

But, on a more physical level, holding and firing the Rudder was an absolute pleasure. As I mentioned, it’s really slender and pocket-friendly, and the clicky aluminum fire key is awfully responsive, even when pulsing at higher wattage outputs. The Rudder ramps quickly, even when used in low-wattage, mouth-to-lung setups, and doesn’t misfire at any level.

Overall, this is a pretty solid mod, and if you like the interface and ergonomics, you’ll probably like the Rudder a lot – maybe more than we did.

Pros:

– Slender, comfortable design

– Unique wheel operation

– Excellent venting throughout

Cons:

– Wheel juts out awkwardly

– Battery door can come loose easier than expected

– Noticeable pulsing at higher wattages

Spinfuel VAPE Verdict and Score

The Oumier Rudder is going to be a very “black or white” decision for most vapers. Either they’re going to love the design and interface, or they’re going to loathe it. While this slender, comfortable device works well and feels great in the palm, the unique design might make it uncomfortable and less-than-optimal for some. Ultimately, we’re recommending you try one before buying – it’s the only way to know if the Rudder is your next mod purchase.